PEORIA — A 20,000-square-foot entertainment and event center will soon open in North Peoria, and the people behind it say they envision hosting everything from rock, country and jazz shows to children's events, weddings and more.

The Limelight Eventplex at 8102 N. University, just north of Pioneer Parkway, will debut with a Beatles extravaganza on Feb. 9, featuring 14 local bands. Dates for nationally touring acts are expected to be announced soon.

Business partners and fellow musicians began discussing the possibility of a venue about two years ago. Rick Owens is a guitarist, Devin Birch is a drummer and Danny Cash is a bassist. The three saw potential in the property and also knew that Peoria lacked a mid-sized music venue.

"Every community around here except Peoria has a venue like this; Bloomington has the Castle Theatre, Springfield has Boondocks, (Urbana) has the Canopy Club, Galesburg has the Orpheum Theatre," Cash said. "Ever since the Madison Theater closed, we've needed this."

The venue's capacity is 1,500. Organizers will also rent space for private events such as weddings, parties and meetings. There will be all-ages shows for the younger set, as well.

Central Illinois-based promoter Jay Goldberg, whose company operates the Canopy Club in Urbana, is working with the Limelight to book acts.

"We're really excited because it does open up that 1,000- to 1,200-seat venue that Peoria's been lacking since the days of the Madison Theater," said Goldberg, who notes that bands playing the Canopy Club may be able to add a Limelight stop into their tour routings.

"My talent buyers are already pursuing acts, and we've already submitted offers," Goldberg said. "Our goal is to get 10 or 12 shows lined up so there's a calendar of events."

When Limelight Group members were asked whether they are concerned about competition from the Madison Theater should it reopen — as the City of Peoria and the Comfort family, which owns the historic theater, have received offers to renovate the building and create a new structure on an adjacent parking lot — Owens said, "We'll cross that bridge when and if it comes."

Though it's still under construction, the building — which previously was used as warehouse space to store paper for MultiAd, Inc. — is quickly being transformed.

An entry way features a large bar, a secondary stage and open loft space above the bar where organizers envision meet-and-greet or VIP events. Veer to the left and there is space for a coat check and merchandise store, with dressing rooms behind.

At the rear of the building is a 10,200-square-foot concert hall with concrete floors and a 36-by-32-foot stage. The industrial-style space is all black with sound-absorbing materials and LED lighting. The concert hall also has an additional loft space with its own bar.

Page 2 of 2 - Components the organizers are particularly proud of? Abundant and tastefully designed bathroom space, and prime sound and production quality.

"Since the three of us are all musicians, we decided to design and build Limelight with the best sound system as well as acoustical treatment possible," Cash said. "We painstakingly paid attention to every detail to achieve this goal."

Says Birch: "We just wanted (the concert hall) to be about the sound and the show. Efficiency — getting to a bathroom and quickly getting a drink — that's what I appreciate about a show."

For more information about the Limelight, visit LimelightEventplex.com, facebook.com/limelighteventplex, or call 693-1234.

Tickets for shows will be available at ticketfly.com.

Danielle Hatch can be reached at 686-3262 or dhatch@pjstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @danielle_hatch.